Maximize AC for a BBEG

Hi all,

Can you help me pump the AC on a BBEG? He's a rune giant. I would like him to fight without a shield if possible, but I need to pump his AC as much as possible. I have magic armor, amulet of NA, ring of Protection, AC Ioun Stone covered. He also has a higher than normal dexterity. Any other rules legal ideas? Thanks!

Dodge Feat.
3 ranks of Acrobatics.
Fight defensively.
Wield a 9 section whip (from ultimate combat).

As a GM, the rules state that the rules shouldn't get in your way when you want to do something. It's completely within the rules for you to just say 'he has an AC of X' and be done with it.

Thanks Brad. Thanks Zhayne, I know. I want to build him "legally".

What about a wand of shield or something along those effects. I'm not sure if you meant 'no shield bonus' or simply no shield.

If you go the fight defensively route, add in the crane style chain of feats, it'll increase AC and minimise attack penalty. Combat Expertise too if you have enough feats.

'Jingasa of the Fortunate Soldier' for +1 Luck AC.

You don't want too much AC coming from magic items. Your players will wind up wearing those items if they defeat your BBEG.

A fighter in full plate, tower shield, Greater Shield Focus, Dodge, and combat Expertise can have a considerable AC.

Remember; Armor Training raises the dexterity cap for fighters.

At CR17, the dude's already walking around with a pretty beefy 30.

I advise some caution here. If he's an ECL+4 or 5, that means you've got some level 12's trying to whack him, which means the fighters have a 75% chance round-a-abouts of hitting him, and vice versa. The standard rune giant is clocking with a +26 to hit on a 4d6+22 damage (that's an assured 26pts a round, on a single attack) rating with his longsword.

If we're dealing with a higher level party though, my suggestion isn't AC. Its concealment/deflection.

A high level party will hit. The AC just prevents iteratives, but generally nobody wants to get into a full attack with a giant (potentially 12d6+66pts of damage).

50k gets him a major cloak of displacement, which is admittedly a hell of a windfall for a party. That's in exchange for a 50% miss chance for 15 rounds.

Minor cloak is just 24k, for a 20% miss chance

This also lets you snigger evilly about how the heroes can't hit a guy the size of a barn because his image isn't where he is.

BBEG's have minions and such to carry out their day to day evil deeds...
And keep the peasants, I.e. potential assassins, from getting to close

Give him a crusader lieutenant/ cohort
- Shield block for cohort's shield bonus +4 to BBEG's AC
- Iron guards glare for -4 to hit anyone in the cohort's reach except the cohort
- Bodyguard feat to give adjacent ally a +2 (dodge?) to AC (cost an AoO)
- cohort can 'assist' BBEG's AC for +2

That's an equivalent +14 AC without 'items'...

If you want to give him AC from gear but not have that gear be valuable, perhaps give him access to a pocket cleric on a daily basis? Said cleric could cast magic vestment on armor or shield to make them up to +5 items, and shield of faith for up to +5 deflection bonus. That's +15 to AC from spells and he could have had mundane equipment.

better to give him stuffs to avoid taking damage entirely, like cloak of displacement or ring of blinking or evasion would be more useful than getting AC.

Instead of raising AC, lower their attack. Consider Demoralizing during combat. This shaken condition gives a -2 (penalty) to attack rolls.

AC is fun and cute, miss chance is more in my dear opinion.

Have him use a few potions or extended defensive buffs.
Spells like "mirror image" are great, "blur" is great too.

You can also if you want give him other type of low level spells to give him an edge, "Resinous skin" is great.

If you want to up his AC without giving away too much gear use potions.

potion of barkskin +5 natural armor bonus

potion of magic vestment +5 armor bonus <--This overlaps with the enhancement bonus from his armor.

potion of shield of faith +5 deflection bonus

Also give him a few minions to use aid another to boost his AC. If they all use aid another it stacks.